Suicide bomber kills 30 in northwest Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - A suicide bomber detonated his explosives among a group of people receiving supplies from a UN food distribution centre in Pakistan’s tribal region Saturday, killing at least 30 people, a government official said.

Seventy others were injured in the attack at Khar, the main town in Bajaur tribal district where government forces are fighting Taliban and Al Qaeda militants.

Imtiaz Khan, a government official, said that around 300 people had gathered to get food when the suicide bomber struck.

“Thirty people have been confirmed but the death toll might rise because around a dozen of the over 70 injured people are in critical condition,” Khan said.

Thousands of families displaced by fighting between Taliban and government forces rely heavily on food provided by the government and the UN World Food Programme.

The bombing came a day after 150 Taliban fighters carried out coordinated attacks on five security posts in neighbouring Mohmand district. Eleven soldiers and 24 militants died, officials said.